1991 MERCURY TRACER Electrical System Problems

I HAD TO REPLACE TWO IGNITION SWITCHES ON MY 1991 MERCURY 1.9 TRACER TO THE TUNE OF $360.00. THE FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED, THE TUMBLERS FELL APART AFTER ONE DAY, I HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC TO INSTALL A SECOND IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON TRACER IGNITION SWITCHES. HOW DO I RECOVER MY EXPENSE? *JB

1991 TRACER IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO 1991 4-DOOR ESCORT AND USES THE SAME ELECTRICAL HARDWARE, PER CHILTON'S MANUALS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH FIRES FOR ESCORTS (NHTSA 96V071000) FOR MODELS 8/87 TO 9/92, BUT THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A RECALL AND THERE WAS NEVER ONE ISSUED BY MERCURY FOR OUR PARTICULAR MAKE. THE SERVICE REPS IN INDIANA AND ARIZONA APPEARED TO HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS BUT STOPPED SHORT OF OFFERING ANY RECALL COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR..*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD TURN ON WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN IGNITION. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

THE CAR FUEL GAUGE FAILED FIRST SOON AFTER PROBLEMS BEGAN TO OCCUR WITH THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY NOT STARTING. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CAR WOULD NOT START UPON LEAVING FROM MY WORK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY DETERMINED. REMOVAL OF THE REAR SEAT REVEALED THAT THE WIRING TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS SEVERELY MELTED AWAY. THE POWER WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP DO NOT APPEAR TO BE THE MAIN PROBLEM HOWEVER, BUT THE SENDING UNIT WIRES HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED AND IN THE PROCESS DESTROYED THE OTHER WIRING AS WELL. THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP HAS NEVER BLOWN WHICH IS THE ORIGIONAL FUSE.

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY. WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE HEARD A BAN, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN SHE LOOKED UNDERNEATH SAW ASHES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY. WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE HEARD A BAN, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN SHE LOOKED UNDERNEATH SAW ASHES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IGNITION FAILURE. PINS HOLDING THE CYLINDER IN PLACE WERE NOT STABLE. PROBLEMS INCLUDED: STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND KEY WILL NOT TURN, KEY CAN BE REMOVE WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED BY TURNING FACE PLATE OF CYLINDER WITHOUT KEY, SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED AFTER ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, AND PRESENTLY ENGINE IS LOCKE IN THE ON POSITON AND THE KEY CANNOT TURN ENGINE OFF.

THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE BEGAN TO RISE, AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF DASH VENTS.

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

WENT TO THE START THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH AND THE STARTER. *AK

WENT TO THE START THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH AND THE STARTER. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLED A BAD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE (REPLACED THE IGINTION SWITCH). *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLED WIRING BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLED WIRING BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE IGNITON STARTED SMOKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE, IGNITION SWITCH KEY OUT OF SWITCH; ENGINE KEPT RUNNING, WOULD NOT TURN OFF; BURNED UP/MELTED DOWN STARTER; SMOKE CAME OUT. *AK

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *SKD